NAPAWF condemns Supreme Court decision in NIFLA v. Becerra

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2018
Contact: Dorothy He
(872) 600-9517 / dhe@napawf.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a ruling in favor of California’s fake women’s health clinics — or so-called “crisis pregnancy centers” — that challenged the California Reproductive FACT Act, a state law requiring licensed facilities to notify women of the availability of free or low-cost comprehensive family planning services including abortion through state public programs, and requiring unlicensed facilities to notify women that they are not licensed to provide medical services. In the NIFLA v. Becerra case, the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), which represents 135 crisis pregnancy centers in California, sued on the grounds that the Reproductive FACT Act violated the First Amendment’s free speech clause. In its decision, the Supreme Court held that the notice requirements under the California law violate the First Amendment.

NAPAWF Executive Director Sung Yeon Choimorrow issued the following statement in response:

“NAPAWF strongly condemns the Supreme Court decision in NIFLA v. Becerra in favor of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates. We are disappointed in the decision and the impact it will inevitably have on thousands of women across California. This is not a First Amendment issue — it is about ensuring that women receive factual information so they can make the best decisions for themselves about their bodies.

“Crisis pregnancy centers have been known to use extremely deceptive and coercive tactics to prevent women from having abortions. What’s more, many set up shop in low-income communities and communities of color to take advantage of vulnerable women who may lack the knowledge, proximity, or financial means to visit real reproductive health clinics. That’s why their refusal to disclose factual information about the availability of state family planning services and in the case of unlicensed facilities, that they are not licensed to provide medical services, is misleading and hurts the women who need safe and accessible abortion care the most.

“All women deserve to be able to see a medical professional who can help them understand their reproductive care options. While this Supreme Court decision fails to reflect this priority, we still need to work towards a vision of reproductive justice for all. NAPAWF will continue fighting until every woman can make decisions about when and if they parent without fear of criminalization or judgment.”

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The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) is the only multi-issue, progressive, community organizing and policy advocacy organization for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women and girls in the U.S. NAPAWF’s mission is to build a movement to advance social justice and human rights for AAPI women and girls.